Fridge Freezers

Choosing a Fridge Freezer

Many UK households opt for the space saving convenience of a fridge freezer, and PriceRunner has rounded up deals on hundreds of them. Our selection has something for absolutely everyone – from retro-style Smeg fridge freezers that come in an array of colours, to top-end Bosch fridge freezers, packed with cool features such as ice dispensers and LED lighting.

Hotpoint fridge freezers are currently one of PriceRunner’s most popular brands, and one of the best sellers in the UK mid-range market. Like most brands they offer a mix of both freestanding and integrated appliances. And if you’re feeling indecisive in the face of so much choice, you can chill out by clicking the Which? Guide tab above for some handy fridge freezer buying advice.

Fridge freezer buying guide

Fridge freezers are a space saving alternative to having two separate appliances, making them particularly popular in the UK. With a vast choice of models on the market in a variety sizes and configurations however, picking out a new one is no easy feat. This guide helps highlight the things you need to consider before making your decision.

Types

Freestanding: Freestanding fridge freezers are the most common type on the market. They typically feature a tall design and come in a variety of colours and styles, ranging from curvaceous retro-inspired models by Smeg, to sleek stainless steel models by Bosch. Fridge freezers offer separate compartments for both chilled and frozen foods, one of which is usually more accessible because it’s at eye-level. If you’re someone who reaches for chilled goods more often than frozen items, then it makes sense to choose a model with the fridge on top, to save you from constantly crouching down.

Built-in: As with any other appliance, a built-in or integrated model blends neatly into your kitchen design, giving it a more seamless finish. While there aren’t as many built-in fridge freezers on the market as freestanding models, there’s enough variety to suit most needs. If you’re leaning towards a built-in model, it’s worth taking into account that it’ll be more expensive to install.

American-style: American-style fridge freezers are a fixture on many Brits’ wish lists. Big, spacious, and impressive-looking, they typically feature large fridge and freezer compartments behind side-by-side doors. Some models even offer three or four-door configurations, for more versatile food storage. Many American-style fridges come with additional features, such as chilled water and ice dispensers.

The important stuff

Volume configuration

A fridge freezer’s volume configuration is something you don’t want to overlook. If you’re someone who eats a lot of frozen foods then you’ll want to prioritize the freezer space, and the opposite is true if your lifestyle revolves around chilled products. There’s a variety of different configurations to choose from, so consider how much space you’ll need first.

Left or right hand opening?

This is really a no brainer, but something that’s easy to overlook. Choosing a fridge freezer with doors that open out into your kitchen allows easier access.

Energy efficiency

A fridge freezer with high energy efficiency is cheaper to run and better for the environment. Energy efficiency is measured in ratings from G to A+++, with anything rated A++ or above considered very energy efficient. Bosch and Samsung are two brands that produce models with excellent ratings.

Features

Some fridge freezers offer more additional features than others, but it varies from model to model. Generally speaking though, the more expensive models out there usually provide the most extras. Below are some of the most common fridge freezer features, all of which are especially useful to have.

Frost-free: Many of today’s fridge freezers come with the convenience of frost-free technology. It works by circulating air around the freezer’s interior, which stops any ice from building up. As a result, you’ll never have the arduous task of defrosting it.

Fast freeze: A fast freeze or fast chill feature ensures your food stays fresh as soon as it’s placed in your fridge freezer. This addition is most useful when you’ve just returned from a food shop, and your items have been out of the cold for a while.

Open door warning: Leaving a door open on your fridge freezer can be a costly mistake, especially if it’s been left open long enough for food to spoil. Open door warnings feature on many models today, and work by sounding an alarm when the door has been left open for too long.

Ice and water dispensers: Some fridge freezers, particularly American-style ones, boast ice and cool water dispensers. These are especially handy during the summer months, or when you’re entertaining. The disadvantage to this feature however is that the fridge freezer will probably need to be plumbed into your water supply, which will amp up the installation costs unless you decide to do it yourself.

Antibacterial coating: Many models feature a special antibacterial coating within the interior. This is not only to prevent bacteria from lingering, but also to reduce unpleasant odours too.

Cost

Your budget will naturally play a large part in which fridge freezer you end up buying. Prices vary massively: a small basic freestanding model can be snared for as little as £150, whilst a top end Sub-Zero American style fridge freezer can easily take you into the thousands. On average though, expect to pay anywhere from £200 to £500 for a decent fridge freezer.

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Integrated fridge freezers will blend in with your kitchen interior. They can be slimmer and more compact than other types of fridge freezers. Generally there's fewer models to choose from and they are more expensive than similar freestanding fridge freezers.

The level of noise that the fridge freezer makes, measured in decibel (dB).

50 dB can be compared to a low voice level, 60 dB to a normal voice level, 70dB as loud music playing on the radio, and 80 dB as the sound level in a smaller workshop.

Ice Dispenser Function to receive ice cubes, is usually situated at the front of the fridge freezer.

Dynamic Cooling System Creates an even temperature in all areas of the fridge freezer.

Frost Free Prevents a build up of ice and frost, which makes manual defrosting unnecessary.

Open Door Warning Indicates with a sound that the door has been left open.

Fast Freeze The freezer can freeze food faster in 24 hours than a regular freezer.

All-Round Cooling Different air outlets blow out cold air at every shelf so that the fridge can keep a constant temperature.

Carbonated Water Dispenser A tap at the front of the fridge which can make carbonated water.

Food Showcase The door has an inner door, which frequently used items can be stored at for quicker access.

Built-in Wi-Fi If the fridge-freezer has the capability to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi.

Mobile App Controlled If the fridge-freezer has an app which allows you to view information about the fridge-freezer from your phone.

Integrated Camera If there's a camera inside of the fridge, which means that you can see what's inside of the fridge from the mobile app with your phone.

Translucent Touchscreen A translucent touchscreen on the fridge-freezer. This allows you to see what's inside of the fridge-freezer, but lets you have valuable information on the fridge-freezer at the same time.